Bag sealer



Jan. 2, 1951 c. MILLER Erm. 2,536,455

BAG SEALER Filed April 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 2, V1951 c. MILLER ETAL 2,536,455

y BAG SEALER Filed April 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lillllllhl #frag/vin Patented Jan. 2, 1951 BAG saALna Cecil Miller, Pomona, and Rudolf Ma-ngoid, Fuilerton, Calif.; said Mangold assigner to said Application April 20, 1948, Serial No. 22,185

(Cl. 21S-22) 15 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for sealing bags and other packages, and more particularly to apparatus of the class described which is adapted to secure drawstrings together, whereby to close the mouth of a sack or bag.

It is conventional practice in closing and sealing up the mouth of burlap or mesh bags to employ drawstrings which are pulled tight, closing the mouth of the bag and to thereafter tie the drawstrings together or secure them together with a wire clip in order to hold the mouth of the bag closed. In food packaging operations where many thousands of lled bags must be sealed, the time necessary to tie the drawstrings together becomes an extremely important factor.

Where wire clips are used to hold the drawstrings together, the expense of the wire and the high cost of constructing and maintaining the machinery necessary to apply the clips becomes an important factor in the cost of packaging.

With a View to eliminating the difficulties just described, it is a major object of the present invention to provide bag sealing means with which the drawstrings of a lled bag may be attached together simply andA quickly whereby to hold the bag closed.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus for applying an inexpensive bag sealing means which apparatus is simple and ineX- pensive to construct and maintain.

It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of the class described which may be operated by merely dragging the depending drawstrings into the apparatus and then releasing the same,

It is still further an object of the invention to provide bag sealing apparatus wherein the danger of injury to operating personnel is completely eliminated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of apparatus embodying the invention, such consideration being given also to the attached drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of a bag sealer, embodying the invention, showing a bag of fruit about to be sealed therewith;

Figure 2 is enlarged View of the drawstrings the bag shown in Figure 1 after they have been secured and scaled by the apparatus shown therein;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure l;

lil

Figure l is a front elevational view of the device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a pian section taken on the line 5 5 in Figure 4;

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are sequential operational views of an enlarged portion of Figure 5, showing the operation of sealing a pair of drawstrings; and

Figure 9 is an elevational section taken on the line d-S in Figure 5.

Briefly described, the sealing operation performed by apparatus embodying our invention consists in applying to a pair of drawstrings, two face-to-faoe lengths of adhesive coated tape. The two lengths of tape adhere strongly to each other and secure the drawstrings therebetween, thus preventing the same from separating and allowing the bag to open. While adhesive tape applied in the manner just described is amply strong to prevent accidental opening of a bag of fruit or other material, such ling means may be quickly and easily rernovha lien it is desired to open the bag.

The tape forming the seal is supplied :ontinuous rolls and is applied and cut ofi' int., short lengths in two closely sequential operations. Mechanical power necessary to squeeze the tape together and to cut ofi the short lengths is supplied by moving the drawstrings in a direction transverse to their length and through the apparatus embodying the invention.

For a more detailed description of the apparatus, reference should now be had to the drawings, particularly Figures l through 5. The framework of the bag sealing apparatus comprises a pair of identical, vertically spaced plates l5 and IE5 secured by means of an L-shaped support bracket it to a convenient vertical surface. The two plates l5 and iii are held in parallel spaced position by two rearwardly positioned spacer block:-` i2 and i3 seen best in Figure 5. As can be seen in Figure 3, the parallel plates i5 and it are approximately heart-shaped and each have a centrai and inwardly extending slot il therein, the slots being parallel and positioned one above the other and being of sufcient width to freely admit a pair of parallel drawstrings I4.

When a iilled bag (Il in Figure l) is to be sealed, it is grasped by the drawstrings I4, and the latter are drawn into the slot Il, the upper end of the bag il dragging along the under surface of the lower plate IB. This operation of drawing the drawstrings through the slot Il applies and cuts oi two short lengths 24a of tape to the drawstrings as will be hereinafter described.

The sealing tape employed in the apparatus herein described is supplied from a pair of rolls I9, the tape being wound adhesive side in, on cylindrical cores or axles 28. A pair of parallel slots 23 is formed in each of the plates l5 and I6, the slots 23 being of sufcient width to receive the projecting ends of the tape axles whereby to support the tape rolls I9 for free rotation as illustrated in Figures 5 and 9.

VAs can be seen best in Figure 5, a pair of rubber tired pressure rollers 22 is mounted adjacent the inner end of the slot I?, one roller 22 being located on either side of the slot. The rollers are in pressure contact with each other and are mounted for free rotation by means of axles 23 which are journalled in the plates I5 and I6.

The tape is unwound from the rolls IS, a web 2li from each roll extending inwardly and passing between the pressure rollers 22. The rolls i9 are soarranged in the apparatus that as the webs 2t pass between the pressure rollers 22 the tape is placed in face-to-face relationship, that is, the adhesive surfaces of theV two tapes are brought together. Thus, as a pair of vertically hanging drawstrings is passed horizontally inwardly along the slot il, the strings encounter the tapes at the apex of the webs 2li' and as the drawstrings are forcibly drawn between the pressure l rollers 22 which are in tangent contact, the drawstrings Il! are squeezed together between the tapes as can be seen best in Figure 6.

A circular rotary cutter member 25 is mounted for free rotation about a vertical axis, the

Y cutter being located just beyond the inner end of the slot Il. As can be seen best in Figure 9, the rotary cutter member 25 is of generally cylindrical shape, being shouldered at its upper and lower ends whereby to be journally supported in the plates I5 and IB. The rotary cutter 25 is formed with a peripheral recess 2t which is initierlly` and nornlly positioned adjacent the inner end of the `e`ntral slot Il whereby the drawstrings I4 surrounded by the tape webs 24 may enter the recess 2E after leaving the slot il.

The axis of rotation of the cutter member 25 is offset laterally from the slot I so that when the drawstrings I4 are drawn forcibly into the recess 25, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the pressure of the drawstrings against the inner end of the recess causes the rotary cutter 25 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. The rotary member Y25 is provided with a sharp cutting edge portion 2l adjacent the mouth of the recess 2? and in position to tan'gentially engage a stationary cutter blade 28 which is adjustably secured to a mounting block 35 between the two plates l5 and I6. Thus as the rotary cutting member rotates in a counter-clockwise direction as indicatedin Figure 8, t-he shearing engagement between the rotary cutting edge 2l and the stationary cutting blade 28 cuts olf a short length Monof the tape webs 2li leaving the severed portions 22a, adhering to the drawstrings ifi as indicated in Figure 2. As can be seen best in Figure 8, the ends of the web 2 remain between the pressure rollers 22 in readiness for contact by the next pair of drawstrings that are drawn into the slot Il.

As soon as the end portions 2da have beensevered from the web 2li, the drawstrings may be released to drop through the recess 2l, the basf then being sealed.

As shown in Figures 5 through 8, a coil spring 29 anchored to a xed screw 33 in the lower plate I6 is attached at its forward end to a radially extending pin in the rotary cutter member 2t, The tension of the spring 2e serves to return the rotarycutter member 25 toits normal position, wherein the recess 25 is contiguous with the slot I 'l'. A pair of stop pins 3l and 32 xed in the pla-tes I5 and l serve to limit the rotary motion of the cutter member r25.

As was previously stated, the stationary cutter blade 28Y is adjustably secured to a mounting block 35, which block is in turn secured between the plates I5 and I Adjustment of the stationary blade 2S is accomplished by virtue of the fact that its rearward end is secured to the block by a screw Sii threaded into the blade 28, while the forward end may be bentV inwardly somewhat toward the rotary cutter 25 'by means ofan adjustment screw 3l. Thus, by manipulating the forward adjustment screw 3l which is threaded into the block 35, the forward end of the blade 25 may be held in operational contact with the rot-ary cutting member 25.

While various types of tapes may be used to secure drawstrings in the manner just described, it has been found that tape of the non-noistening variety such as is usedV bydraftsmen or by painters for masking tape is well suited for bag sealing as herein described. In using such tape, however, it is necessary to provide against gumming of the rotary cutter member 25 due to small amounts of adhesive which adhere thereto after a number of tape portions 25a have been cut off of the webs 24. It has been found furthermore that the provision of a very slight amount of solvent, such as kerosene or benzine,

will keep the cutter member 25 clean and free from adhesive.

In order to continuously apply solvent to the peripheral surface of the cutting member 25, a

pair of wicks 3Q and 49 are held in peripheral contact with the cutter member 25 and are provided with surrounding retainer strips il and d2 respectively which form small reservoirs for retaining a supply of solvent absorbed in the wicks 39 and 110. The wicks 33 and Il may be of cotton waste or similar material.

The sealed drawstringsare illustrated in Fig- 'ure 2 wherein it will be noted that the extending ends 25a of the severed tape portion serve not only to afford means for easy removal of the tape seal, but also provide space in which various printed matter designating the date of packing the bag or other pertinent information may be printed. Such printed information can be applied in various ways, for example, by pre-printing the tape rolls IS, 'by printing the information on the tape as it moves through the apparatus, or by imprinting the severed portions 25d after the strings have been released from the machine.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the sealing apparatus shown and described herein is not limited in its use to the sealing or fastening of drawstrings. Other extended members such as wires, tapes, ribbons, and the like, can be effectively secured together by the use of the same apparatus with little or no modification. Y

While the method and apparatus shown and described herein are fully capable of Vachieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it will be realized that they are capable of considerable modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. For this reason, we do not mean to be limited to the method and apparatus in the forms shown and 5 described, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In apparatus of the class described: sup port means including a body having a guiding edge to receive a pair of' extended members and guide the same inwardly along a path of motion transverse to their` length; means in said support means to hold a supply of adhesive tape; means to support an end portion of said tape adjacent said edge in position to encounter said members as the same are moved along said path of .mon tion; normally stationary, movable pressure means ad'acent said path, engaged with said tape portion, and positioned to be driven by said movement of said members to apply pressure to said tape against said members whereby to secure the saine together; and cutting means cluding a normally stationary, movable member positioned and adapted to be operatively engaged by said extended members and moved by said inward motion whereby to sever said end portion from said supply of tape and permit withdrawal of said extended members secured by said end portion.

2. In apparatus of the class described: support means including a body having a guided edge to engage a pair of extended members and guide the same along a path of motion trans verse to their length; means in said support means to hold a pair of supply lengths of adhesive tape, said lengths being terminally joined in adhesive contact and said juncture being positioned in said path whereby to encounter said members as the same are moved therealong; and movable pressure means adiacent said path and positioned to be driven by said movement of said members to apply pressure to said tape lengths whereby to press end portions thereof into faceto-face adhesive contact with said members se cured therebetween.

3. In apparatus of the class described: support means including a body having a guide edge to engage a pair of extended members and guide the same inwardly along a path of motion transverse to their length; means in said support means to hold a pair of supply lengths of adhesive tane, said lengths being terminally joined in adhesive contact and said luncture being po sitioned in said path whereby to encounter said members as the same are moved therealong: movable pressure means adiacent said path and positioned to be driven by said movement of said members to apply pressure to said tape lengths whereby to press end portions thereoi` into faceto-face adhesive contact with said members se cured therebetween; and cutting means in said support means adacent an inner end of said path, said cutter means being adapted to sever said end portion from said supply of tape whereby to permit withdrawal of said members secured by said end portion.

4. In apparatus of the class described: sup port means including a body having a guide edge to engage a pair of extended members and guide the same inwardly along a path of motion trans verse to their length; means in said support means to hold a pair of supply lengths of adhesive tape, said lengths being terminally joined in adhesive contact and said juncture being positioned in said path whereby to encounter said members` as the same are moved therealong; movable pressure means adjacent said path positioned to be driven by said movement of said members to apply pressure to said tape lengths whereby to press end portions thereof into faceto-iace adhesive contact with said members secured therebetween; and cutting means including a normally stationary, movable member positioned and adapted to be operatively engaged by said extended members and moved by said inward motion thereof to sever said end portions of said tape from said supply length thereof whereby to permit withdrawal of said extended members secured between said end portions.

5. In apparatus of the class described: support means including a pair oi' vertically spaced horizontal plates, said plates each having a central and inwardly extending slot therein, said slots being aligned in parallel relationship whereby to receive a pair of pendant drawstrings and guide the same inwardly along a path of motion transverse to the length of said drawstrings; means to support a length of adhesive tape between said plates and adjacent said slots in position to encounter said drawstrings as the same are moved along said path of motion; and normally stationary, movable pressure means between said pates and adjacent said slot, said pressure means being positioned to be moved by said movement oi said drawstrings to apply pressure to said tape against said drawstrings whereby to secure the same together.

ln apparatus of the class described: support means including a body having a guide edge to engage a pair of extended members and guide the same along a path of motion transverse to their length; means to support a length of adhesive tape adjacent said path in position to encounter said members as the same are moved along' said path; and pressure means including a pair of normally non-rotating, rotatable resilient rollers in mutually tangent contact with each other and positioned in said support means adiacent said path whereby said members pass between said rollers when moved avong said path of motion to rotate said rollers and apply pressure to said tape against said members whereby to secure the same together.

7. In apparatus of the class described: support means including a body having a guide edge to engage a pair of extended members and guide the same inwardlv along a path of motion transverse to their length; means in said support means to hold a supply of adhesive tape; means to support an end portion of said tape adjacent said path in position to encounter said members as the same are moved along said path; movable pressure means adjacent said path and positioned to be driven by said movement of said members to apply pressure to said end tape portion against said members whereby to secure the same together; and cutting means including a normally nonurotating member supported for rotation adjacent an inner end of said guide means, said rotary member having a peripheral recess therein aligned with said path adapted to receive said extended members as they are moved inwardly along said path whereby to rotate said rotary member in response to said motion, said rotary member having a cutting edge formed therein positioned and adapted to be moved across said path of motion by rotation of said rotary member whereby to sever said end portion from said supply of tape, and permit withdrawal oi said extended members secured by said end portion.

8. In apparatusof the class described: support means including a body having a guide edge to engage a pair of extended members and guide the same along a pathv of motion transverse to their length; a pair of rolls of adhesive tape supported in said support means, one on either side of said path of motion, said rolls having lengths unwound therefrom, said lengths being terminally joined in adhesive contact with said juncture thereof positioned substantially in said path of motion whereby to encounter said members and adhere thereto as the latter are moved along said path of motion; and normally stationary, movable pressure means adjacent said path and positioned to be driven by said movement of said members to apply pressure to said tape lengths whereby to press end portions thereof into face-to-face adhesive Contact with said members secured therebetween.

9. In apparatus of the class described: support means including a body having a guide edge to engage a pair of extended members and guide the same along a path of motion transverse to their length; a pair of rolls of adhesive Vtape supported in said support means, one on either side of said path of motion, said rolls having lengths unwound therefrom, said lengths being terminally joinedin adhesive contact with said juncture thereof positioned substantially in said path of motion whereby to encounter said members and adhere thereto as the latter are moved along said path of motion; movable pressure means adjacent said guide means positioned to be driven by said movement of said members to apply pressure to said tape lengths whereby to press end portions thereof into face-to-face adhesive contact with said members secured therebetween; and cutting means including a normally stationary, movable member positioned substantially in said path of motion and adapted to be operatively engaged by said extended members and driven by said inward motion of said extended members to sever said end portions of said tape from said unwound lengths thereof, whereby to permit withdrawal of said extended members secured between said end portions leaving said unwound lengths terminally joined as before.

10. In apparatus of the class described: support means including a pair of vertically spaced horizontal plates, said plates each having a central and inwardly extending slot therein, said slots being aligned in parallel relationship whereby to receive a pair of pendant drawstrings Vand guide the same inwardly along a path of motion transverse to the length of said drawstrings; a roll of tape mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and positioned between said plates, said tape having an end portion thereof unwound from said roll and positioned adjacent said slot whereby to encounter said drawstrings as the same are moved along said path of motion; and pressure means including a pair of normally stationary, movable resilient members positioned in said support means, one on either side of said guide means whereby said path of movement extends between said resilient members and whereby said members are driven by said movement to squeeze said tape against said drawstrings as the same are moved along said path of motion.

11. In apparatus of the class described: support means including a pair of vertically spaced horizontal plates, said plates each having a central and inwardly extending slot therein, said slots being aligned in parallel relationship whereby to receive a pair of pendant drawstrings and guide the same inwardly along a path of motion transverse to the length of said drawstrings; a

Cil

pair of rolls of adhesive tape supported in said support means, one on either side of said path of motion, said rolls having lengths unwound therefrom, said lengths being terminally joined in adhesive contact with said juncture Vthereof positioned substantially in said path of motion whereby to encounter said drawstrings and adhere thereto as the latter are moved along said path of motion; and pressure means including a pair of normally non-rotating, rotatable, resilient rollers in tangent contact positioned in said support means adjacent said guide means whereby said drawstrings pass between said rollers when moved along said path of motion to rotate said rollers and apply pressure to said tape against said drawstrings whereby to secure the same to- Y pressure rollers mounted for rotation about vertical axes between said plates, said rollers being positioned on either side of said path of motion and adapted toV make mutually tangent contact; and a laterally spaced pair of rolls of adhesive tape mounted for free rotation on vertical axes.

positioned between said plates and on either side of said path of motion, said tape rolls having lengths unwound therefrom, said unwound lengths being terminally joined in adhesive contact, and said terminal junction thereof being held between said pressure rollers whereby said drawstrings when moved inwardly along said slots encounter said tapes at the adhesive surfaces thereof and pass between said rollers causing the latter to rotate and press end portions of said tape lengths together with said drawstrings secured therebetween;

13. Bag sealing apparatus of the class described comprising in combination: a pair of vertically spaced horizontal support plates each plate having a central inwardly extending slot, said slot I being positioned in parallel alignment whereby to receive a pair of pendant drawstrings and guide the same inwardlyalong a horizontal path of motion; a pair of resilient pressure rollers mounted for rotation about vertical axes between said plates, said rollers being positioned on either side of said path of motion and adapted to make mutually tangent contact; a laterally spaced pair of rolls of adhesive tape mounted for free rotation on vertical axes positioned between said plates and on either side of said path of motion, said tape rolls having lengths unwound therefrom, said unwound lengths being terminally joined in adhesive contact, and said terminal junction thereof being held between said pressure rollers whereby said drawstrings when moved inwardly along said slots encounter said tapes at the adhesive surfaces thereof and pass between said rollers causing the latter to rotate and press end portions of said tape lengths together with said drawstrings secured therebetween; and severing means including a xed cutter member mounted adjacent the inner end of said slot and a rotary member journalled in said plates and having a cutting edge formed therein positioned and adapted for cooperative shearing action with said fixed cutting member upon rotation of said rotary member, said rotary member having a peripheral `recess therein normally aligned with said path of motion whereby to receive said drawstrings with said end tape portions secured thereto and whereby motion of said drawstrings along said path of motion when in said recess rotates said rotary member to sever said end portions from said unwound lengths.

14. In apparatus of the class described for sealing a closure member: means to support a supply of adhesive tape having a length thereof extended from said supply; means including a body having an edge adapted to guide said closure member in inward motion against said length whereby to adheslvely attach said tape to said normally stationary member; movable cutting 15 means positioned and adapted to sever a portion of said tape from said length whereby to leave said portion attached to said member; and means to actuate said cutting means, said actuating means including an element aligned with the path of movement of said closure member and engageable by said closure member to move said last element and operate said cutting means.

'15. In apparatus of the class described for sealing a closure member: means to support a supply 2,

adhesively attach said tape to said member; movable cutting means positioned and adapted to sever a portion of said tape from said length whereby to leave said portion attached to said member; and means to actuate said cutting means, said actuating means including a rotatable member having said cutting means secured thereon, said rotatable member having a peripheral recess therein adapted to receive said closure member with said tape attached thereto, and said rotatable member being adapted to be rotated by tangential pressure exerted by said closure member whereby to sever said tape portion as aforesaid.

CECIL MILLER.

RUDOLF MANGOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Darte 1,133,602 Woodland Mar. 30, 1915 1,946,056 Birdsey Feb. 6, 1934 2,110,683 Scholer May 8, 1938 2,164,502 Cundall July 4, '1939 2,456,059 Grupe Dec. 14, 1948 Y the above numbered patent requiring Certicate of Correction Patent N o. 2,536,455 January 2, 1951 CECIL MILLER ET AL.

' It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed Specication of correction as follows: Column 5, line 27, f

or the Word guided read guiding; column 9, line l5, for normally stationary member; read member; normally statz'onary,;

ould be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice. Signed and sealed this 6th day of March, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY, 

